Help to rebuild collapsing houses

Chesmal K. Siriwardhana

COLOMBO: People involved in recycling solid waste, living near the Bloemendhal dump, will receive building material to rebuild their collapsing houses at the Agamethi Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo 13 today at 3.00 p.m.

These people go to the dump site daily and collect waste paper, glass and plastics, and sell them to the recycling industries to make a living. This helps solve the garbage problem as well as improve the economy.

In turn this community does not enjoy proper living conditions. They live in dilapidated houses, with water from drains flowing into them when it rains. The children sleep on the wet floor while elders too suffer.

In appreciation of their service to the environment, the national programme on recycling solid waste with Dr. Ajantha Perera at the helm, has embarked on a project to facilitate this community with sand, cement and bricks to rebuild their houses.